Founder of Sadomasochistic Sex Clubs Among U.N. Inspectors: Paper
- From: "muslim-news.net" <editor_@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
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- Date: Fri, 29 Nov 2002 00:44:33 -0000
WASHINGTON, November 28 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) - The United
Nations launched its weapons inspections in Iraq with a team that
includes ?a 53-year-old Virginia man with no specialized scientific
degree and a leadership role in sadomasochistic sex clubs?, a U.S. daily
reported Thursday, November 28.
The United Nations acknowledged Wednesday, November 27, that it did not
conduct a background check on Harvey John ?Jack? McGeorge of Woodbridge,
who was in New York waiting to be sent to Iraq as a munitions analyst,
the Washington Post said.
McGeorge was chosen for the diplomatically sensitive mission over some
of the most experienced disarmament sleuths in the world, the paper
reported. A U.N. spokesman said McGeorge was part of a group recommended
by the State Department, which in turn said it was merely forwarding
names for consideration.
The disclosures about McGeorge?s qualifications come as concerns are
being raised among some former U.N. weapons inspectors that the current
team lacks experience, the Post said.
The former inspectors, who worked for the United Nations Special
Commission created after the Persian Gulf War, say the new inspectors
were selected in part to avoid offending Iraq.
According to the paper, former inspectors say that rules requiring
applicants to quit their government jobs meant that some of the
best-qualified experts did not apply, leaving many positions to be
filled by applicants, such as McGeorge, from the private sector.
U.N. officials defended their team of inspectors, saying that they are
highly qualified and among the best in the field. But they also
acknowledged that they conducted no background checks, the Post
reported.
?As the United Nations, with people applying from many countries, we do
not have the capability to do that,? said Ewen Buchanan, a spokesman for
UNMOVIC. ?How would you check??
McGeorge is a former Marine and Secret Service specialist who offers
seminars on ?weaponization of chemical and biological agents? for
U.S.$595 a session. Since 1983, he has been president of his own firm,
Public Safety Group Inc., which sells bio-terror products to
governments, the paper said.
One online advertisement promotes his role as a ?certified United
Nations Weapons inspector.?
McGeorge does not possess a degree in any of the specialized fields -
such as biochemistry, bacteriology or chemical engineering - that the
United Nations says it seeks in its inspectors. U.S. and U.N. officials
said a background check apparently was not conducted on McGeorge or any
of the inspector applicants, the paper said.
An internet search of open web sites conducted by the Washington Post
found that McGeorge is the co-founder and past president of Black Rose,
a Washington-area pansexual S&M group, and the former chairman of the
board of the National Coalition for Sexual Freedom.
He is also a founding officer of the Leather Leadership Conference Inc.,
which ?produces training sessions for current and potential leaders of
the sadomasochism/leather/fetish community,? according to its web site.
Several web sites describe McGeorge?s training seminars, which involve
various acts conducted with knives and ropes.
McGeorge said yesterday that a State Department official invited him to
apply for the U.N. team, and officials at State and the United Nations
did not ask about his S&M background. But he said he would tender his
resignation to Blix if the Post printed a story about it.
?I have been very upfront with people in the past about what I do, and
it has never prevented me from getting a job or doing service,? McGeorge
said. ?I am who I am. I am not ashamed of who I am - not one bit. But I
cannot allow my actions, as they may be perceived by others, to damage
an organization which has done nothing to deserve that damage.?
A State Department official said that the Bureau of Nonproliferation
collected résumés from potential UNMOVIC candidates and then passed
along, without recommendation, those who appeared to meet the general
criteria of the jobs. However, the official said he believes that
background checks were not conducted before the résumés were forwarded,
the paper said.
Fifty of the 100 inspectors picked so far were recommended by
governments, and the other half applied directly to the United Nations.
Buchanan added that the United Nations considers McGeorge?s private life
irrelevant to his role as a munitions analyst, the paper reported.
?I believe that Mr. McGeorge is technically very competent,? Buchanan
said. ?He knows his subject, which is weapons. As a general principle, I
think what people do in their private life, as long as it doesn?t
interfere with [their] professional life - and I?m not aware that it has
interfered - or doesn?t break any rules or laws, shouldn?t be a
significant issue.?
Interviewed by telephone, McGeorge defended his training and experience.
?I was a military ordnance explosive disposal specialist,? McGeorge told
the Washington Post. ?I was very well trained on chemical and biological
agents.?
McGeorge?s résumé indicates that he trained as an inspector with UNMOVIC
in February 2001 in Vienna. He said he was interviewed in person by Blix
and joined the team as a temporary staff member in December 2001.
McGeorge?s professional background reveals he served for a few years
each as a Marine ordnance disposal technician and a munitions
countermeasures specialist with the Secret Service, both stints
occurring more than 20 years ago, the Post reported.
On his résumé, McGeorge lists an honorary doctorate from a Russian
institute in Moscow.
McGeorge received an associate?s degree in security management from
Northern Virginia Community College in 1983. He also lists numerous
articles on chemical and biological weapons in such publications as
Defense and Foreign Affairs and NBC Defense & Technology International,
the Post said.
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